Legislative Appointees to the NM Health Insurance Exchange Executive Board

State of New Mexico

House of Representatives

W. Ken Martinez, Speaker of the House

Rick Miera, House Majority Leader

Antonio “Moe” Maestas, House Majority

PRESS RELEASE

April 5, 2013

Contact: Marilyn Galano, 505-986-4782

Marilyn.Galano@nmlegis.gov

Santa Fe, NM - Speaker of the House, W. Ken Martinez and Senate President Pro Tem, Mary Kay Papen, held a news conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico today to name six members of the New Mexico Health Insurance Board of Directors.  The six members are Dr. Martin Hickey, CEO of New Mexico Health Connections, David Shaw, Hospital Administrator and CEO of Nor-Lea General Hospital, Jason Sandel, Vice Chairman and Consumer Member of the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool, Dr. Larry E. Leaming, Respiratory Therapist and CEO of Roosevelt General Hospital, Patsy Romero, COO of Easter Seals El Mirador and state President of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and Teresa Gomez, President and CEO of Futures for Children and past Deputy Secretary of New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

“Time is of the essence, that’s why it was so important to get the right people in place to steer this monumental undertaking,” says Speaker Martinez. “I am confident the people we have appointed will be able to deliver a one-stop shop for affordable health care that will meet the federal requirements. More importantly, the exchange they help to establish will make for a much more healthy New Mexico.”

“The Health Care Exchange legislation is a good first step toward providing affordable health care in New Mexico,” says President Papen. “We put our trust in these experts we are appointing today to make sure New Mexican’s get the best health care exchange possible.”

The NM Health Insurance Exchange is part of the federal Affordable Care Act and will allow individuals to comparison shop for plans offered by health insurance companies on the exchange. By October 1, 2013, the NM Health Insurance Exchange must start taking applications from qualified individuals and qualified employers for qualified health plans. The NM Health Insurance Exchange must be up and running by January 2014.